The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-15
Criminal Cour
GULF STREAM ANTICS.
Matters Which Influence the Flow of the Grea
Ocean River.

Matters Which Influence the Flow of tho Great
New York Times.
The recent experiences Of steamers in not be-
ing able to find the Gulf Stream current just
where they fancied they had every reason to ex-
pect a strong and favorable set, serve to en-
phasize the lack Of knowledge by the world al
large of this most mighty of rivers. Notwith-
standing the fact that thousands of vessels
nually pass through the straits of Florida, there
are always some mariners fully prepared to be
surprised if they do not find q current OF the
maximum strength set down on the charts. The
influences which tend to lessen this force are
Just those which would make the actual position
of the vessel uncertain. as stormy weather mill
tates greatly against determining the exact posi-
ton of q vessel in reference to the axis of the
stream, and q few miles either way place her
where she meets not only q greatly reduced cur
rent, but actually a couEter-set to the westward.
This fact has been established beyond all doubt
tenant Pillsbury and his party OF observers
aboard the coast survey steamer Blake. at pres
emit refttiug for continuation of her scietihc
research in this direction
The westerly set along the reefs west of Carys-
foot lighthouse is we'll known. It probably be-
gins at what is called tho elbow" or near &c.
it increases to q width of twenty miles more
off Rebecca Shoals, we'll outside the One-hund-
red Fathom curve. This clears the coral reef by
a fairly safe distance. This space, or zone, SO to
speak, is a variable quantity, the current il
governed by the tides, well as by barometrcsl
pressure, and the defamation of the moon. Free
shown how vessels, in attempting to make Sand
Key light when running from Cape San Anto-
Mo. at the western extremity Of Cuba. have, to-
ward morning, found themselves in among the
shoals, without having sighted Sand Key, when
there was every reason to have expected an east
erly current of from one to two knots and q half
per hour.
Lieutenant Pillsbury has she honor OF being
tho first to discover the effect OF the diurnai
tides on the strength Of the Gulf Stream. His
conclusions are that the strength of the stream
is greatest three days following the time of tbs
highest monthly declination of the moon, and
that just before the rise, whlcf begins on the
cay of greatest declination, there Is q drop or q
slacksning up of the speed. In applying these
rules, due regard must naturally be paid to the
effect severe northeast storms have on the sur
face currents, impeding them and backing up
the water in the Gulf of Mexico from which 1T
rushes with tremendous force as the gale SUBJ
sides. The experience of the captain of the
Eureka is q case in point. he found the west
erly set until Carysfoot was reached. The day
OF greatest flow of the stream ought not to have
como until more than o day after the vessel had
passed Hatteras. MP to which point she should
not have found the current at any, time at the
maximum, at least until after passing Charles
ton, as the charts might have induced the Caps
tain 70 think should have been the case. When
tho observations referred to have been pub
lished there will. be but little left to speculate
this greatest OF ocean streams. Years have All
ready been devoted to these observations and
everything that science and intellectual super,
vision Of the work could accomplish has beek
brought to bear to bring about successful re-
enle